arine pioneers ly trades above end below the sea michael Becker News Editor beichacl@nsnews.com EC participants visited forth Vancouver on Sunday o take in some of B.C.’s orld-leading marine tech- hology. . North Shore-based companies are mong the innovators. The North Vancouver contingent on hand at RCIT’s Pacitic Marine Training Campus inctud- ed Offshore Systems Ltd. (OSL), Hard Suits Inc. and Nuyteo Research Ltd. OSL is set- ting standards with break- uytco presi- lit up f Wednesday. November 26. 1997 — North Shore News — r APEC AN APEC participant at Pacific Marine Training Campus stands by North Van-based Nuytco Research Ltd.’s work sub called the Deep Rover, which can be used as deep as 3,00C feet. and omomnin chen at amesphe ric pressure. Right sew an sudimacners | | are pressured, ; they msk death trom explosive bends Hothey atempt fe transte! ron 4 pressured submanne ite che ataesprcre af a submersible rescue vehicle “So this is a pressure suit they can use remake that jpamp. In the event there is no rescue wehick, they can use the suit ta ceme to the surtice wearing the suit and decompress on the surface,” said) Nuytten. The subinarine pressure suit rolls up into something not much bigger than a football. The suit becomes a hard shell when inflated hydraulically with water. “You inflate ir with water to about 20,000 pounds per square inch and then it becomes absolutely rigid,” said Nuytten. The suit has yet to be patented. Ir will tolerate pressure from the inside or the outside. It. can be used either as a one-aunosphere suit or as a decom- pression chamber to treat the bends. Last month in Nova Scotia, Nuytten presented the product to the submarine escape and rescue group of the Canadian Navy. “They were wildly excited. This is an absolute breakthrough for submarine rescuc.” he said. NEWS photo Cindy Goodman dent Dr. Phil = through technology in the uytien, area of marine navigation. The company’s electronic hart ‘display and information systems integrates Breal-time geographic information with radio navigation, depth sounder, gyrocompass, radar ae electronic chart information into one dis- ay. Pe Hard Suits Inc. has become a Canadian suc- B cess story with the Newtsuit atmospheric diving : subsidiary of fAmerican Oilfield Divers Inc. of Houston system. The company, now Texas, has also developed hybrid subsea systems combining manned submersibles and remotely operated vehicles. industry pioneer Dr. Phil Nuytten, designs, builds and operates atmospheric diving suits, subs and remotely operated vehicles. Nuytten, who developed | Newtsuit technolo- gy and then sold his interest in Hard Suits about a year ago, is making waves with Deep Worker 2000, a one- atmosphere, single-person sub. As president of a company looking t sell products globally, Nuytten views the APEC presence in Vancouver as something more than an expensive public relations gesture. “We've had a lot of contact with thes. peo- ple that make up the APEC group over the fast six months. There seems to be a fot of interest in exploiting the oceans in their own countries. A lot of ir has to do with off-shore oil and a Jor of it has to do with such things as ocean farm- ing and thermal energy conversion tor electric- ity. “What they’re looking for is a kind of under- water Volkswagen and that’s exactly what we're building.” The Deep Worker sells tor approximately 200,000 and is being built in North Vancouver. Nuytco has just received official cer- tification for the sub and is now going “gung- ho” on production. Meanwhile, Nuytco’s Jatest invention will revolutionize the way people are rescued from disabled submarines. The submarine pressure suit will be used to transfer submariners from a downed submarine One hundred and fourteen countries oper- ate military submarines. There have been more than 100 incidents of peace-time sinking. “Sometimes 30 or 40 people are lost i in these things but you never hear about it,” said Nuytten. fronically Nuytten, whose company has also developed a lighter version of a rigid atmos- pheric diving suit, is now a competitor of Hard Suits, the company he left behind. “We're cer- tainly friendly competitors. “The idea of endless Newtsuits popping off the conveyor belt was of no real interest to me at all. My common sense tells me that’s what the investors need, but my whole philosophy on this is to try to intiovate,” he said. Nuytco Research Ltd., founded by diving INV shipbuilders sink no-strike agreement Front page 1 : overruns, missed deadlines or the strike that fas sheit down one of the shipbuilding facilities operated by fast-ferry contractor Vancouver Shipyards. Instead, Dan Miller, the provincial minister respon: sible tor B.C. Ferries, used the occasion to laud the fast ferries and their competitiveness aad criticize media reports thar he says dwell or the negatives. He agrees there have been hiccups in the produc- tion of the first fast terry, but said all large projects have growing pains. Jack Munro is the board chairman of Caramaran Ferries International, a wholly- owned subsidiary of B.C. Ferries that is building the fast ferry. The West Vancouver resi- dent was also at the APEC open house and echoed much of what Miller said. Pointing to the 200 tradesmen being trained in alu- minum welding and the quality of the work being done on the ferries, Munro said that shipbuilding: was becoming pretty insignificant in B.C. and this program can bring it back. “Ir can be once again an important part or oar economy, especially on the North Shore,” he said. “This is a major infusion into allthe North Shore. “Everybody is going to be proud as hell.” Munro is not concerned about the missed deadlines and launch dates, saving nothing turns on those dates. In April 1996, when Premier Glen Clark launched the fast terry program, his government said the first of three $70-million fast ferries would enter service in summer 1997. The ferries are expected to cut 30 min utes off the Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay crossing. More frequent trips mean fast ferries climinat: the need for $110 million in expenditures on terminals and roadways by reducing terminal congestion. said. B.C. Ferries. Also, B.C. Ferries said new skills in the design, construction and technology will make BC. a Strong contender ia the interna- tional fast ferry marker. ‘The ferries now cost $74 mil Bon cach and the tirst one won't he in service until spring 1998. A late December hunch dare has now been pushed back again, said Andy Hamilton, CPEs gen- eral manager. The Jaunch date, Hamilton said, now hinges on an on-going strike oat Vancouver Shipyards, a contrac tor on the fast ferries, and when the firm delivers modules ta the fast ferry assembly facility in North Vancouver. ‘Two modules trom a Vancouver Island shipyard won't arrive in North Van until mid-January. Yhe week long strike by [5 office workers has closed down Vancouver Shipyards’ facility. at the Pemberton. No talks are planned, said a ship- vard spokesniata ‘“Poesday. Brian Foley of die B.C Labor Relations Board said he submitted a fist of ree ommendations to beth the union and company Tuesday afternoon for their consideration. Hamilton agreed that the strike will hurt the mar keting plan for the terries. Prospective clients, said a frustrated Hamilton, want the comfort and knowledge that the building program fora catamaran will not be affected by any industrial action, : Hanulton said CFL had ane strike, ne lockout deal with the shipyards building portions of the ferries. “Phe fegal people are looking at the situation,” said Hamilton. He added that Sundav’s open house gave those attending a good image of the quality of the Canadian work force. “Ut certainly gives us a showease of what we can do in the world market,” Hamilton said. While CFL awaits the final pieces of the ferry, clee trical, pipe and insulation work is going on in the assembly facility. foot oof Photo Craig Nichols Shop talk ALINE Chretien (middie) visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge and stopped at the facility's trading post Monday. Suspension bridge owner Nancy Stibbard (left) and sales associate Rosa Anbarian weicomed the prime minister's wife. Band hosts Nexus Robert Gaister News Reporter rabert@nsnews.com LEADERS of APEC countries weren't the only ones meeting in the Lower Mainland this week. Coinciding with the influy of media and delegates from around the world is an Aboriginal conference and trade and art show. Sponsored by the Native Investment and ‘Trade Association, Nexus “07 was held at the Squamish Recreation Centre and the Nord1 Shore Conterence Centre last Monday and “Fuesday, Vhe trade and art show featured LOS exhibitors from aboriginal firms throughout Canada hoping te cash in on the media frenzy sur- rounding APEC. While the products on display were as varied as they were plentiful, aff shared the same goal: pushing their wares. Kirst Nations Cola, wild peat, batteries and wild rice were all available. “These firms are all export-ready,” said Blythe Rogers, the conter- enee coordinator, “A lot of exhibitors are meeting with other exhibitors and comparing notes. [tsa start Pd say Meanwhile, the conference portion of Nexus served to push tor the increase of international indigenous trade with speakers representing, amony others, New Zealand’s Maori people and Australia’s Aboriginal Affairs department,